Welding apparatus



April 19, 1949. L. R. oNElLL WELDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. ll, 1948 Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELDING APPARATUS Louis R; eill', Warren, Ohio Application October 11, 1948, Serial No. 53,831

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to welding ap-paratus and more particularly' to electric resistance welding apparatus of the spot welding type.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of an improved spot welding apparatus of the portable type.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a portable spot welding apparatus including structure arranged to maintain the electrodes thereof in positive alignment with one another.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a portable welding apparatus of a simple lightweight form capable of relatively easy fabrication and assembly.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of welding apparatus of the resistance type having means for alternately mounting various lengths of electrode carrying arms so that the apparatus may be adapted for various workpiece applications.

The portable electric resistance welding apparatus disclosed herein 4comprises a device incorporating means for applying forging pressure to workpieces to be welded and at the same time provides for the direction of an appropriate electrical current through the workpieces so that a satisfactory weld is made.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and ar-` rangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional side elevation of the portable welding apparatus.

Figure 2 is a plan View on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

By referring to the drawing and Figure 1' in particular it Will be seen that the electric Weld'- in'g apparatus comprises an assembly of simply machined and assembled parts includingl a cylindrical body member ID formed of suitable material such as 18-8 stainless steel having a chamber II in one end thereof and a` seconda-ry chamber I2 in the other end thereof. It will be observed that the chamber II is" of smaller diameter than the' chamber I2l and that the" chambers I I and I2 are separated from one another 2 by a plug I3 threadably engaging a thread pattern formed in the cylindrical body member I0 and inwardly from the ends thereof. The plug I3 is drilled axially to form a passageway for a piston rod I4.

A piston head I5 is formed on one end of the piston rod I and registers in the chamber II. The piston and piston rod are formed of suitable material such as 18-8 stainless steel. A cap I6 threadably engages the end of the cylindrical body member I0 to form a closure for the chamber II and is providedwith a drilled and tapped orifice I'I through which fluid pressure is adapted to be delivered to the device for' actuating the same.- The other end of the piston rod III extends outwardly and beyond the other' end of the cylindrical body member I'Il Where it is Secured to a yoke-like extension' I8 of a sleevelike member I9 formed of non-magnetic material. The inner diameter of the sleeve-like member I9 corresponds with the outer diameter' of the cylindrical body member I0 with appropriate mechanical clearance so that the sleeve-like member I9 can slide back and forth on the cylindrical body member IU'. A key 2U is attached to a portion of the sleeve-like member I9 and registers with a longitudinally extending slot 2l formed in the cylindrical body member IU and in the end thereof dening the chamber I2 as heretofore referred to. The connection between the outer end of the piston rod I4 and the yokelik'e extension I8 of the sleeve-like member I9 comprises a shoulder 22 formed on the piston rod for registry with the inner surface of the yoke I 8. The outer end of the pistn rod I4 is threaded and a fastener such as a nut 23 is secured thereto against the outer face of the yoke I8. It will thus be seen that any motion on the part of the piston I5 and the piston rod Ill will be imparted to the yoke i8 which in turn will move the sleeve-like member IS longitudinally on the cylindrical body member I0. The other end of the cylindrical body member I' has an annular section 24 of reduced diameter for the reception of an insulating bushing 25 andv a frame member 26 which is preferably formed of nonmagneticy material and in the manner of a G clamp so that it can be tightened into position on the cylindrical body member I0 and electrically separated therefrom by the insulating bushing 25.

The frameA member 25 has a sideward extension 21 which in turn has drilled and tapped orifices 28 therein by means of which one end of a flexible electrical conductor (not shown) may be connected thereto. Alhandle 29, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings, may be alternately secured to the outer face 3D of the extension 21 or to the side thereof in which the orifice 28 is formed, as desired, -so that the welding apparatus may be conveniently manipulated thereby. The sleeve-like member I9 is also provided with drilled and tapped orices I9 similar to the orifices 28 heretofore referred to so that a .secondary electrical conductor may be connected thereto and a welding circuit established between the welding apparatus and a suitable source of electrical current.

The means for clamping the frame member 26 in location on the cylindrical body member I6 may comprise bolt and nut assemblies 3I as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings and which engage the spaced portions of the C-like frame member 26 so that the inner diameter thereof may be reduced by tightening the bolt and nut assemblies 3l. The sleeve-like member I9 and the frame member 26 have oppositely disposed, aligned extensions 32 and 33, respectively, slotted portions of which comprise means for the detachable connection of a pair of oppositely disposed, aligned, electrode :carrying arms 34 and 35, respectively. In Figure 1 of the drawings the arms 34 and 35 are shown to be relatively short and to carry electrodesl 36 and 3l in a conventional manner.

` It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the length and configuration of the arms 34 and 35 may be changed from that illustrated herein, for example, so that they are considerably longer and thereby capable of engaging workpieces to be welded at a greater distance from the cylindrical body member lil than that illustrated herein. The electrodes 36 and 31 are adapted for the -cir-culation of a coolant therethrough as is also customary in the art. The handle 29 is provided with a trigger 38 for the remote actuation of controlling devices (not shown) as known in the art by means of which hydraulic pressure may be introduced linto the orifice I1 as by way of a suitable connecting flexible tube and by means of which a welding current may be connected to the sleeve member I9 and its electrode 36 and the frame 26 and its electrode 31 to the end that a satisfactory resistance Welding operation may be performed.

It will thus be seen that a portable welding apparatus of the electric resistance type has been disclosed which comprises a simply formed and assembled structure and which possesses certain inherent advantages and particularly with respect to the maintenance `of the electrodes 36 and 31 in predetermined desirable alignment with one another. Asis known in the art, one of the common objections in portable electric resistance type Welders has been the inability to maintain alignment between the electrodes and/or their sideward movement with Irespect to workpieces positioned therebetween during the times when forging pressures are applied to the workpiece through the electrodes.

would Ipermit the electrodes 36 and 31 to move out of predetermined alignment.

By again referring to Figure 1 of the drawings it will [be seen that a coil spring 39 is disposed about the piston rod i4 and between the inner surface of the yoke i8 and the plug I3 so as to normally bias the yoke I8 outwardly with respect to the cylindrical body member Il). In connection with the plug I3 it will be observed that glands are provided between the plug body and the rod i4, as indicated by the numeral 40, and between the plug body and the chamber l I as indicated by the numeral el. A wiper 42 is mounted on the sleeve-like member I9 for maintaining the exterior surface of the cylindrical body member I0 in suitable condition for the reciprocal travel of the sleeve-like body member I9.

It will thus be seen that a simple and eicient portable electric resistance apparatus has been disclosed which meets the several objects of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. An electric resistance welding apparatus of the type in which the apparatus serves as a means for applying pressure to the parts to be welded and including a body member having a chamber formed therein, means for introducing fluid pressure into said chamber, a piston in said chamber having a rod connected thereto and extending outwardly of the said body member, a secondary body member of cur-rent conducting material positioned around the exterior of the rst mentioned body member for reciprocal movement thereon and connected to the said piston rod lfor movement thereby, a frame formed of current conducting material positioned on the said body member and insulated therefrom, and means on the said `secondary body member and on the said frame in oppositely disposed aligned relation for receiving welding electrodes.

2. An electric resistance welding apparatus of the type in which the apparatus serves as a means for applying pressure to the parts to be welded and including a cylindrical body member having a chamber formed therein, means for introducing uid -pressure into said chamber, a piston in said chamber having a rod connected thereto and extending outwardly `of the said body member, a sleeve-like member or" current conducting material positioned on the exterior of the cylindrical body member for reciprocal movement thereon and connected to the said piston rod for movement thereby, a frame formed of current conducting material positioned on the said cylindrical body member and insulated therefrom, and means on the said sleeve-like member and on the said frame in oppositely disposed aligned relation for receiving welding electrodes.

3. An electric resistance welding apparatus of the type in which the apparatus serves as a means for applying pressure to the parts to be welded and including a cylindrical body member having a chamber formed therein, means for introducing iiuid pressure into said chamber, a piston in said chamber having a rod connected thereto and extending outwardly of the said body member, a sleeve-like member of current conducting material positioned on the exterior of the cylindrical body member for reciprocal movement thereon and connected to the said piston rod for movement thereby, a frame formed of current conducting material positioned on the said cylindrical body member and insulated therefrom, means on the said sleeve-like mem-` ber and on the said frame in oppositely disposed aligned relation for receiving welding electrodes, and spring means normally urging the said sleeve-like member away from the said frame.

4. An electric resistance welding apparatus of the type in which the apparatus serves as a means for applying pressure to the parts to be welded and including a tubular body member having a cylindrical chamber formed in one end thereof, means for directing iluid pressure into the said cylindrical member and a piston reciprocally mounted in said chamber, a portion of the said piston extending outwardly of the said tubular body member, a sleeve-like member slidably mounted on the exterior of the said tubular body member, a yoke on said sleeve-like member spanning one end of the said tubular body member, the said piston rod being connected to the said yoke, iluid sealing means located inwardly of the ends of the said tubular body member and forming a seal between the said piston rod and the said tubular body member, a circular frame mounted on the said body member and insulated with respect thereto and spaced with respect to the said sleeve-like member and means on the said sleeve-like member and on the said circular frame for receiving welding electrodes.

5. An electric resistance welding apparatus of the type in which the apparatus serves as a means for applying pressure to the parts to be welded and including a tubular body member having a cylindrical chamber formed in one end thereof, means for directing iluid pressure into the said cylindrical member and a piston reciprocally mounted in said chamber, a portion of the said piston extending outwardly of the said tubular body member, a sleeve-like member slidably mounted on the exterior of the said tubular body member, a yoke on said sleeve-like member spanning one end of the said tubular body member, the said piston rod being connected to the said yoke, fluid sealing means located inwardly of the ends of the said tubular body member and forming a seal between the said piston rod and the said tubular body member, a circular frame mounted on the said body member and insulated with respect thereto and spaced with respect to the said sleeve-like member and means on the said sleeve-like member and on the said circular frame for receiving welding electrodes, and spring means normally maintaining the electrodes.

6. A portable electric welding apparatus comprising a pair of welding electrodes to engage the material being welded, one of the electrodes being fixed and the other electrode movable toward and away from the said xed electrode, means normally supporting the fixed electrode and enclosing a iiuid pressure cylinder, a piston in said cylinder mechanically connected with the said movable electrode and adapted to apply welding pressure to the material being welded, the said support means for the fixed electrode including a tubular extension and the said movable electrode including an annulus slidably engaging the said tubular extension of the iixed support.

7. An electric resistance welding apparatus of the type in which the apparatus serves as a means for applying pressure to the parts to be welded and including a cylindrical body member having a chamber formed therein, means for introducing fluid pressure into said chamber, a piston in said chamber having a rod connected thereto and extending outwardly of the said body member, a sleeve-like member of current conducting material positioned on the exterior of the cylindrical body member for reciprocal movement thereon and connected to the said piston rod for movement thereby, a frame formed of current conducting material positioned on the said cylindrical body member and insulated therefrom, means on the said sleeve-like member and on the said frame in oppositely disposed aligned relation for receiving welding electrodes, and a key and keyway formed on the sleeve-like member and the cylindrical body member, respectively, for maintaining the electrode receiving means in oppositely disposed relation.

LOUIS R. ONELL.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Harris Aug. 18, 1942 Number 

